Annapolis City Council Special Meeting, September 28, 2026

The Annapolis City Council held a special meeting on Monday, September 28, 2026, from 7:00 pm to 8:38 pm in City Council Chambers. All nine members were present: Mayor Littmann, Alderman Huntley, Alderwoman O'Neill, Alderman Smith-Brown, Alderwoman Allsup-Johnson, Alderman Schandelmeier, Alderwoman Contee, Alderman Savidge, and Alderman Thorp. The meeting opened with a moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance. The agenda was amended to add R-36-26, authorizing nonprofit vendors during the Fall 2026 Annapolis Powerboat and Sailboat Shows; the amendment carried on a voice vote.

Ceremonial Items

• ID-177-26: Mayor Littmann and Alderman Thorp presented a citation to Dick Franyo for the 25th anniversary of Boatyard Bar and Grill. The citation noted that the restaurant has raised more than $7 million for Chesapeake Bay conservation, heritage youth programs, and accessible boating.
• ID-180-26: The Council proclaimed the week of September 28 as Economic Development Week in Annapolis, recognizing the city's active membership in the Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA).

Mayor's Update and Committee Reports

• Mayor Littmann expressed solidarity with Ocean City after an early fall nor'easter, saying the city's resilience work is about protecting a way of life. He described an Eastport Mercedes dealership facade dispute in which the original application was rejected, a revised plan was approved in August 2024, and permits were issued in October 2024, despite 17 community opposition letters and zero support letters. He asked the Planning and Zoning Director to review how the city handles public notification of resubmitted plans.
• Mayor Littmann announced upcoming events: the Annapolis Pride parade and festival on October 3, the Annapolis boat shows from October 8 through 18, and an expungement clinic on October 9. He also said, 'We do not tolerate hate in this city.'
• Alderman Schandelmeier reported that the Economic Matters Committee will hear from new maritime businesses on October 7.
• The Audit Committee reported that FY26 financial books were closed on June 30 consistent with the city's audit timeline. The financial statement audit and annual comprehensive financial report are on track for December, while the federal single audit is delayed nationwide pending release of the OMB 2026 supplement.

Public Comments & Testimony

• John Richards (120 Duke of Gloucester Street), a lawyer for 39 years, challenged a staff statement from the prior meeting about attached dwellings in the C1A historic district, saying it was 'not the law' and that it was shocking to hear the city's planner suggest a vacant attached dwelling could not be reoccupied.
• Sharon Kennedy (9 Randall Court) said Zoning Ordinance §21.68.040(C)(1) allows non-conforming structures damaged by fire or natural causes to be restored if restoration begins within one year. She cited the 2004 fire at 8 Maryland Avenue as an example. She distributed a Ward 1 statement saying residents 'oppose these recommendations firmly' and argued that changing Ward 1 zoning should follow, not precede, the citywide housing strategic initiative.
• Svienn Storm (120 & 130 Dock Street) thanked city staff for their responsiveness while he works to open a coffee shop. He said his store income dropped almost $100,000 and is on target to drop twice that amount, and that approvals could come by the end of Wednesday, creating six new jobs and retaining seven existing jobs.
• Mike O'Halloran (614 Glen Field Court), an owner-operator of a licensed short-term rental near West Street, said he is not worried about R-33-26 but is concerned about the annual lottery under O-17-25 after November 1, 2027. He offered to help revisit the city's short-term rental rules during the moratorium.
• Dan Clements (17 Southgate Avenue), an attorney for 54 years, opposed the upzoning process, saying a Ward 1 meeting had 140 attendees, not the 75 stated in a report, and that 127 people signed up, with only one person speaking in favor. He urged the city to complete its housing study before making zoning changes.
• Julia Hemeon (1817 Glade Court), a newer resident and Virginia real estate agent, said she attempted to rent her home on Airbnb for the boat shows and U.S. Naval Academy families, later learned a license was required and the HOA did not allow it, and said she would not apply. She referenced the proposed $5,000 fine for unlicensed short-term rentals.
• Robert Carraccetto (311 Chesapeake Avenue, according to the minutes), founder of Bar and Batter, an alcohol-infused desserts cottage business in Eastport, thanked the city and expressed support for the cottage food home occupation ordinance.

Public Hearing

• O-15-26 (Cottage Food Businesses as Home Occupations): Mayor Littmann accepted into the record the Planning Commission Findings and Recommendation dated September 17, 2026, and declared the public hearing closed. No additional signed-up speakers appeared.

Consent Calendar

• The Council unanimously approved the appointment of five members to the Art in Public Places Commission: Julien Jacques (Ward 5), McShane Glover (Ward 1), Leah Weiss (Ward 3), Kaitlyn McQuaid (Ward 2), and Joan Brady (Ward 2, designated as the at-large member). Mayor Littmann explained that the first three appointees will serve three-year terms and the next two will serve two-year terms, with later appointees filling the remaining staggered terms.

Business & Miscellaneous

• SA-3-27 (Grant – OEM – U.S. Department of Homeland Security): The Council approved a supplemental appropriation increasing the FY25 UASI grant by $219,985.40, from the $680,000 budgeted to the $899,985.00 awarded. OEM Director Simmons confirmed the anti-terrorism funding is for training, exercises, and plans, not equipment such as an armored personnel carrier.

First Readers

• O-26-26 (Special Residential Parking Districts – District Lettering): Adopted on first reader on a voice vote; referred to Public Safety and Transportation Committees.
• O-27-26 (Water Service Lines – Right of Entry): Adopted on first reader on a voice vote; after an initial misstatement, Mayor Littmann referred it to the Environmental Matters Committee.
• O-28-26 (DOT Fines and Allowing Fine Waivers): Adopted on first reader on a voice vote; referred to Public Safety and Transportation Committees. It was Alderwoman Allsup-Johnson's first ordinance introduction.
• O-29-26 (Outdoor Dining – Definitions, Administration, and Operational Standards Update): Adopted on first reader on a voice vote; referred to the Economic Matters Committee.
• R-34-26 (Annapolis Main Street Advisory Task Force): Adopted on first reader on a voice vote.
• R-35-26 (Water Service Agreement – 3020 Arundel on the Bay Road): Adopted on first reader on a voice vote; referred to the Finance Committee.
• R-36-26 (Fall 2026 Boat Shows – Nonprofit Vendors): Added to the agenda as a late request from the Annapolis Optimist Club. Adopted on first reader, then the rules were suspended to allow immediate second reading; adopted on second reader by a 9-0 roll call.

Second Readers

• O-17-26 (Right to Park in Front of Residential Private Driveways): After a postponement motion failed for lack of a second, Alderwoman O'Neill moved to refer the bill back to the Public Safety and Transportation Committees; the referral carried on a voice vote.
• O-22-26 (Extension of Temporary Dissolution/Restructuring of the Arts in Public Places Commission): Adopted on second reader by voice vote, then adopted on third reader by a 9-0 roll call.
• R-24-26 (AFSCME Local 3406 Collective Bargaining Agreement, FY2027-2028): Ratified on second reader by an 8-0-1 roll call, with Alderman Smith-Brown abstaining.
• R-25-26 (IAFF Local 1926 Collective Bargaining Agreement, FY2027-2028): Ratified on second reader by a 7-0-2 roll call, with Aldermen Smith-Brown and Savidge abstaining.
• R-26-26 (UFCW Local 400 Annapolis Police Department Collective Bargaining Agreement, FY2027-2028): Ratified on second reader by an 8-0-1 roll call, with Alderman Smith-Brown abstaining.
• R-28-26 (Fee Waiver – 2026 Freedom Mortgage Military Bowl Parade): Alderman Savidge's Amendment 1, adding whereas clauses on the fee-exemption factors and the Freedom Mortgage title sponsorship, carried on a voice vote. His Amendment 2, to strike 'Freedom Mortgage' from the resolution, was defeated on a voice vote after several members argued removing the sponsor's name would send a negative message. The resolution, as amended, was adopted on second reader by a 9-0 roll call.
• R-33-26 (Fines for Short-Term Rental Violations): Alderman Savidge's Amendment 1, reducing the initial fine from $5,000 to $2,000, was defeated on a 2-7 roll call (Ayes: Huntley, Savidge). Alderman Thorp's Amendment 2, adding a whereas clause stating the fine's intent is to minimize unlicensed short-term rentals, carried on a voice vote. The resolution, as amended, was adopted on second reader by an 8-1 roll call, with Alderman Savidge voting no. During discussion, the Council requested that the Planning and Zoning Director's fine guidelines be shared with the Council; Deputy City Manager Buckland answered questions.

Key Outcomes

• Agenda amended to include R-36-26; motion carried on voice vote.
• Consent calendar approved unanimously (9-0).
• SA-3-27 approved on voice vote.
• Public hearing on O-15-26 closed; Planning Commission findings accepted into the record.
• O-26-26, O-27-26, O-28-26, O-29-26, R-34-26, R-35-26, and R-36-26 advanced on first reader.
• O-17-26 was referred back to the Public Safety and Transportation Committees.
• O-22-26 was adopted finally (9-0).
• R-24-26, R-25-26, and R-26-26 were ratified as collective bargaining agreements.
• R-28-26 was adopted as amended (9-0).
• R-33-26 was adopted as amended (8-1).
• The meeting adjourned at 8:38 pm.